<p>do international students have an edge over US high schoolers.
The reason i am asking is that I can be go to either of them but am not sure which to choose keeping in mind admission to Ivy league schools</p>
<p>US High schooler has a HUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEE advantage over internationals.</p>
<p>like what?
Can you please specify as the decision is important to me?</p>
<p>Its fairly obvious! 85-95% of the students admitted are Americans. So you’ll compete in that pool instead of the 5-15% superkids from around the world.
Besides, the univs are need-blind for americans and meet full demonstrated need in a lot of cases, unlike for internationals.</p>
<p>US students in general have a bigger advantage because the colleges know exactly what topics are covered in each course. They know everything about the standard of teaching and course rigor. The same cannot be said about schools outside the US which follow different boards. Thus, US students have a big advantage because the colleges can make an informed decision regarding the student’s admission.</p>
<p>Pune quuen u frm Pune?
Me 2</p>
<p>Are you in 8th right now?</p>
<p>I’ll tell you you can not even compare the American system to the Indian system. I don’t care what ever anyone else says now, but the American system is far far superb. The Indian system checks how well you can memorize vast amount of bloated information with no meaning, and the American system checks how well you can actually learn. Plus you’ll be in a better state of mind because of the workload in the US.</p>
<p>I did all my schooling from Kindergarten to 7th grade in the US, and then came here and its the worst decision I’ve ever made in my life. I also lost my residency after being out of the country longer than my re entry permit allows.</p>
<p>You don’t even have to think over it, your finances are going to be a lot easier to manage and your academics as well. Don’t look any further.</p>
<p>kushalck is absolutely correct!</p>
<p>@gary7: 85-95% students admitted are Americans. You’re right. But you should also check out the number of American applicants versus that of international applicants. No doubt, its tough for internationals. However, for an X university, if there are 20k applicants, 18.5-19k will be Americans, and hence the 85-95% admitted American students.</p>
<p>Hi all- thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Yes-I am in 8th standard and have lived all my life in US( born in the US of A) until last year. I have an opportunity to join an IB school for my high school year and that would be my first choice ( luckily my parents are supportive so far). I very rightly agree that the board system is very rote-type and definitely kills lot of the imagination. The only advantage I have felt is it teaches you some rigor which is needed for IB, I guess.</p>
<p>^ I had the exact same situation as you, except my parents made the stupid decision of staying here…</p>
<p>@queen- I know that intl’ applicants might not be as many, but they’re nowhere near the same proportion as the acceptances. The net acceptance rate for intl’ students IS much lower, and there is also the fact that intl’ applicants tend to be stronger than the average american one.
@kushalck- I agree the board system is very rote-based, but systems like IB can compensate for it. On the whole, staying in India, however, is much more of a learning experience than America. At least, I don’t regret spending my childhood here 
On another note, even if you are in ISC/CBSE, you are still free to take APs/JEE coaching/O levels etc. Whatever suits you basically.</p>
<p>As far as the ‘rigour’ is concerned, nothing does it better than an integrated JEE-school combo program like FIITJEE Pinnacle. But still, you are always free to make things rigorous for yourself by selfstudying for the right exams and stuff. Its a very personal choice, finally :)</p>
<p>I agree with you Gary but see not everyone has the option to take IBDP or A levels.
I am from ahmedabad and there are no good schools for those courses here (the schools which do offer them are lame)
There is always an IIT coaching class which gives you knowledge and immense depth in the subject but you cannot write " attending JEE classes" in your Application, can u?</p>
<p>I did, actually. Only as ‘coaching for competitive examinations’.</p>
<p>cool guys…</p>
<p>Thanks Gary- are you in the application process now or you are in college already?
Any details of your SAT’s and college prep courses will be helpful.</p>
<p>But I guess writing “coaching for JEE/competitive exams” won’t make any difference.</p>
<p>If it would’ve made a difference, people would write “preparing for International Math Olympiad + JEE + AIEEE + bla bla bla whatever!”</p>
<p>anyone here from American embassy school in New Delhi?</p>
<p>It made sense in my case since IIT was a part of my common app essay.
And proper coaching classes is different from preparing for IMO. IMO does not in any way relate to high school curriculum.
@Pune- If you can elaborate a bit more on your interests/aims/strengths, I can try to suggest something in Pune.</p>
<p>By the way, did any of u guys do coaching for SAT or did u do a self-preparation?</p>
<p>@gary:</p>
<p>That’s great since you’ve included it in your essay. Some applicants write this stuff in extracurricular/additional information but do not elaborate it (as you did in your essay) which makes their app look LAME.</p>
<p>I mean, although I feel sitting in an American style classroom makes the system feel really amazing (and I concur), I feel, that although I have never been in an Indian system, there must be SOMETHING right with the system that allows its products to be arguably the best engineers, doctors and lawyers in the world. Something, I mean, however insignificant, but something.</p>